Cloudy Crystal Ball: Week 1

Justin Hite

08/29/2014

Who will star at running back? Will Louisiana Tech stick with the Sooners?

Each week of the college football season brings its own set of crazy predictions. Some are out of this world. Some are just lazy and will definitely be achieved. We at SoonersIllustrated have our own set of weekly predictions. See what appears as we gaze into our cloudy crystal ball for Oklahoma’s Week 1 matchup against Louisiana Tech.

Neither Keith Ford nor Alex Ross will lead Oklahoma in carries or yards in Week 1 . . . Instead, freshman Samaje Perine will be the Sooners’ top dog in the backfield. It won’t be for anything Ford or Ross didn’t do, but Oklahoma will be in the red zone plenty and the top two running backs might not see the field in the second half. That’ll leave Perine to run roughshod over Louisiana Tech for twice as long.

Louisiana Tech will pull off a surprise touchdown in the first eight minutes and be trailing by only one score after the first quarter . . . There will be some rust that the Sooners have to shake off. Remember last year’s season opener. It was 0-0 after the first period, and Louisiana Tech is likely to be a more troublesome offense than Louisiana-Monroe was a year ago.

Geneo Grissom will finish with more tackles for loss/sacks than Eric Striker . . . It’s not completely absurd to think that the Bulldogs’ coaching staff also watched the Sugar Bowl. They’ll be as focused on Striker as Alabama should have been. As a result, Grissom will benefit from single blocks and have a chance to cause havoc in the backfield.